Video control user interface for interactive television systems and method for controlling display of a video movie

ABSTRACT

A video control user interface is provided for use in an interactive television system. The video control user interface includes a remote control handset with a multi-purpose, multi-direction actuation pad and a set-top box configured to operate in different modes, including a movie-on-demand mode. In this mode, the set-top box receives digitally transmitted video data streams of a selected movie from a centralized head end server. During display of a video movie, the set-top box can cause, at the viewer&#39;s request, the television to display an icon representing a physical layout of the actuation pad on the remote control handset and one or more symbols arranged at locations relative to the icon. The symbols relate to shuttle controls for controlling viewing of the video movie. This user interface presents an intuitive visual mapping of the shuttle controls about the depicted icon onto physical actuation positions of the multi-direction pad on the remote control handset. When the viewer wishes to change the viewing mode (such as from &#34;play&#34; to &#34;pause&#34;), the viewer simply depresses the pad at an actuation position that corresponds to a desired shuttle control symbol arranged at approximately the same location relative to the pad-resembling icon that is displayed on the screen. This user interface provides intuitive video control using a multi-purpose actuator, thereby eliminating the need for dedicated shuttle control buttons on the remote control handset.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates to video control user interfaces used ininteractive television systems. This invention also relates to methodsfor operating an interactive television system and particularly, forcontrolling viewing of video movies on a television.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The most familiar forms of conventional television systems are broadcasttelevision, cable television, and satellite television. In broadcasttelevision, the video signal is broadcast from a central antenna todistantly located TV antennas at individual homes. In cable television,the television signals are transmitted over a coaxial cable that is fedinto subscribing homes. The cable is connected to a set-top box whichtypically sits on top of the television set. Cable television includesboth programs produced specially for cable as well as programstraditionally found in the broadcast environment. In satellitetelevision, video signals are transmitted from a station on earth to anorbiting satellite and then retransmitted back to many individual homesthat are equipped with an appropriate satellite receiver.

In each of these conventional forms of television systems, the viewer isa passive audience with no control of the content on the programmingbeing displayed. Rather, the viewer only has control over which channelsto watch.

In recent years, there has been tremendous strides toward interactivetelevision systems where the viewer is able to actively participate inthe programming content. In this forum, it is envisioned that viewerswill have the ability to watch conventional programming as well asmovie-on-demand in their own homes. "Movie-on-demand" means that aviewer can watch a video movie any time he/she wishes, as opposed tobeing restricted to scheduled times as is common in fee-basedprogramming (such as Pay-Per-View™), or in premiere cable programming(such as HBO® and SHOWTIME®).

In the movie-on-demand mode of interactive television, the viewer isexpected to have control over the video stream being transmitted to theset-top box. It is desirable that the viewer have similar control ashe/she would have when operating a video cassette recorder (VCR).Conventional VCRs have standard "shuttle controls" which control how thevideo movie is played on the television. Example shuttle controlsinclude "rewind," "play," "fast forward," "stop," "pause," and "record."

It is an object of this invention to provide a video control userinterface that can be employed in an interactive television system toassist the viewer in controlling viewing of a video movie.

Many people are accustomed to operating a VCR to control viewing of acassette-based video movie. The VCR has shuttle control buttons on thefront panel. Most VCRs also come with a remote control handset thatpermits the viewer to operate the VCR from a remote location. Theshuttle control buttons are typically arranged in a horizontal rowacross the handset in the same arrangement as the front panel. Onecommon arrangement is to have the "play" and "stop" buttons lie betweenthe "fast forward" and "rewind" buttons.

FIG. 1 shows a prior art remote control handset 10 for remotelyoperating a VCR wherein the shuttle control buttons are arranged in anon-linear, oval pattern. This particular handset 10 accompanies acommercially available VCR sold by Panasonic® under model numberAG-1290p. Of particular interest, handset 10 has a set of buttonsdedicated to shuttle control. These buttons include a "PLAY" button 12,a fast forward or "FF" button 14, a "STOP" button 16, and a rewind or"REW" button 18. These primary shuttle control buttons are arranged inan oval pattern and are specifically used only for the associatedshuttle controls; they have no other function. In addition to thesebuttons, handset 10 includes other function specific buttons. Notableamong these buttons are up/down channel buttons 20, a dedicated pausebutton 22, and a record button 24.

While the handset 10 provides all of the primary VCR functions, itrequires viewers to divert their eyes from the television screen to thehandset when ordering a change. It would be desirable to provide a moreconvenient user interface that permits a viewer to intuitivelymanipulate the handset while viewing the television screen.

Another drawback to handset 10 of FIG. 1 is that all of the buttons arespecifically dedicated to shuttle controls and other functions. None ofthe buttons in this example handset are multi-purpose. Some commerciallyavailable remote control handsets attempt to combine shuttle controlswith other television control buttons, like a full numeric keypad orvolume control buttons. These full service handsets tend to be longer,more bulky, and not very convenient to operate. It is also difficult tohunt and find a particular button on a handset which has many dedicatedbuttons.

In the interactive television environment, there is considerably moreopportunity for viewer involvement and a greater range of programmingoptions. Remote control handsets will therefore be asked to providemultiple different functions, including television control, channelselection, movie-on-demand, and menu management. Depending upon the modeof operation, the same buttons might be required to perform differenttasks.

It is therefore another object of this invention to provide a videocontrol user interface that works intuitively with a remote controlhandset having multi-purpose buttons that function differently whenoperated in different modes.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This invention provides an intuitive video control user interface thatcan be employed in an interactive television system. The video controluser interface includes a remote control handset with a multi-directionactuation pad and a set-top box configured to operate in differentmodes. Of particular interest, the set-top box can operate in amovie-on-demand mode where it receives digitally transmitted video datastreams of a selected movie from a centralized head end server. Whilethe movie is playing, the set-top box can cause the television todisplay an icon representing a physical layout of the actuation pad onthe remote control handset and one or more symbols arranged at locationsrelative to the icon. The symbols represent shuttle controls forcontrolling viewing of the video movie. In this manner, the userinterface presents an intuitive visual mapping of the shuttle controlsabout the depicted icon onto physical actuation positions of themulti-direction actuation pad on the remote control handset. When theviewer wishes to change the viewing mode (such as from "play" to"pause"), the viewer depresses the pad at an actuation position thatcorresponds to a desired shuttle control symbol arranged atapproximately the same location relative to the pad-resembling icondisplayed on the screen.

Once depressed, a direction control signal is generated and sent to theset-top box which converts the direction signal to the appropriateshuttle control. The set-top box transmits the shuttle control requestto the head end server which then alters how the digital video datastream is transmitted back to the home in a manner corresponding to theselected shuttle control (for instance, pausing the video data stream).

The pop-up icon and visual mapping to a multi-purpose, non-dedicatedactuation pad provides a convenient, intuitive video control userinterface. The viewer can look at the television screen andsimultaneously operate the disc-shaped pad using tactile senses in amanner that corresponds to the visually displayed shuttle control map.Unlike prior art handsets, the viewer does not need to divert his/hereyes from the screen to the handset in an effort to hunt and find theappropriate dedicated shuttle control button.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The same reference numbers are used throughout the disclosure toreference like components and features.

FIG. 1 is a front view of an example conventional remote control handsetused to operate a VCR.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an interactive television system accordingto an aspect of this invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic illustration of a television unit in the FIG. 2interactive television system.

FIG. 4 is a front view of a remote control handset used in theinteractive television system of this invention.

FIG. 5 is a diagrammatic illustration of a disc-shaped pad on the FIG. 4remote control handset in relation to a pop-up icon displayed on atelevision. FIG. 5 shows an icon that is displayed when a video movie ispaused or stopped.

FIG. 6 is a diagrammatic illustration similar to that of FIG. 5, butshowing an icon that is displayed when the video movie is playing.

FIG. 7 is a functional block diagram of a user interface of thisinvention having a remote control handset and a set-top box.

FIG. 8 is a flow diagram of a method for operating an interactivetelevision system according to another aspect of this invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

FIG. 2 shows an interactive television system 30 according to thisinvention. Interactive television system 30 includes a centralized headend server 32 which is configured to provide television programmingservices to multiple homes, of which representative homes 34(1)-34(m)are shown. A single head end server 32 might be designed, for example,to service 250,000 homes. Each home 34(1)-32(m) is depicted forexplanation purposes as having at least one set-top box (STB)36(1)-36(m) coupled to at least one television (TV) 38(1)-38(m), and aremote control handset 40(1)-40(m). The set-top boxes are connected toreceive signals from head end server 32. As is customary, the set-topboxes control which programs are displayed on their associatedtelevisions.

Head end server 32 is interconnected to the end viewers' homes34(1)-34(m) via a multi-tier distribution structure 42. Distributionstructure 42 includes a high speed, high bandwidth fiber optic cablenetwork 44 coupled to many regional distribution nodes (represented bydistribution node 46). The speed and bandwidth of fiber optic cableaffords the desired performance for supporting a fully interactivetelevision system. Each distribution node 46 is connected to multipleSTBs 36(1)-36(m) via conventional home entry lines 48, such astwisted-pair lines or coaxial cable. As an example, each distributionnode 46 supports approximately 500-1200 homes.

Head end server 32 transmits traditional broadcast and cable programmingover multiple channels to each home, much like the familiar conventionalcable television systems. The programs are embodied as digital videodata streams that are transmitted from head end server 32 overdistribution structure 42 to homes 34(1)-34(m). The head end serverreceives the video signals from another source, such as a broadcastsignal, a satellite feed, or other cable system.

Head end server 32 also provides additional services, such asmovie-on-demand and an electronic programming guide. In FIG. 2, head endserver 32 is shown as having a continuous media server 50 and a databaseserver 52. Continuous media server 50 stores the video data streams forselected movies that are to be provided on demand to an individualhousehold. The continuous media server is preferably implemented as adisk array data storage system consisting of many large capacity storagedisks, each on the order of one to several Gigabytes.

The video data streams of the movies are stored digitally on the storagedisks in predetermined or mapped locations. The locations of the videodata streams are kept in a memory map and each video data stream can beaccessed through pointers to the particular memory location.

The continuous media server can service simultaneous requests to view amovie on demand (even the same movie) from thousands of homes. Thedigitally stored video data streams can be accessed by any number ofviewers at the same or staggered times. For example, one household mightrequest a video data stream at 8:00 pm, and a second household mightrequest the same video data stream at 8:02 pm. This situation is easilyaccommodated by slightly staggered pointers to the same video datastream beginning at the same memory location.

Database server 52 stores program descriptive information used by theelectronic programming guide (EPG) or other menus, such as amovie-on-demand menu. The database server stores such data as theprogram title, actor information, whether the program has closed captionor stereo, the scheduled viewing time, the network name, the programcategory, and a description text. The program information is used toupdate the EPG or other menu as the user scrolls through them.

Database server 52 also holds pointers to memory locations within thecontinuous media server 50. The pointers identify the storage locationsof the video data streams of the movies. According to this interactivetelevision system 30, the viewer simply selects the movie of his/herchoice from a menu on the screen and the head end server retrieves thedigital video data stream from the continuous media server 50 using thepointers from database server 52 and transmits the digital video datastream to the requesting set-top box for display on the associatedtelevision.

FIG. 3 shows an individual television unit 60 in each householdconnected to the interactive television system. Television unit 60comprises set-top box 36, television 38, and remote control handset 40.The handset is remotely coupled to the set-top box via conventionalcommunication techniques, such as infrared or radio communication.

FIG. 4 shows a preferred construction of remote control handset 40. Ithas a centrally located, multi-purpose control actuator 70. Preferably,control actuator 70 is embodied as a circular disc-shaped,multi-directional pad that can be actuated in many positions. In theillustrated embodiment, multi-directional pad 70 can be actuated bydepressing the disc in four different directions: up or north 72, rightor east 74, down or south 76, and left or west 78. Thismulti-directional pad can be used in many different operating modes forthe interactive television system, as described below in more detail.

Handset 40 also includes a 10 digit numeric keypad 80, a power button82, a volume control button 84, a channel up/down button 86, a mutebutton 88, and A and B option buttons 90 and 92. Three user interfacecontrol buttons are also provided; namely, a menu button 94, an actionbutton 96, and a help button 98. Notice that the remote control handset40 of this invention is relatively compact in size, has few buttonswhich are used to control many different modes of operation, and islogically arranged in an intuitive and ergonomic fashion.

With reference again to FIG. 3, set-top box 36 is configured to operatein many different modes including a program mode, where the viewerselects a television program to display on the television, and amovie-on-demand mode, where the viewer box selects a video movie todisplay on the television. In the program mode, the multi-purpose pad 70on remote control handset 40 is used for television controls. Forinstance, disc-shaped pad 70 might be used to move a focus frame orhighlighting bar in one or more directions across an EPG grid or avertical pull-down menu. The directional movement of the focus frame orhighlighting bar on the screen relates nicely to the physicaln-directional movement of the disc-shaped pad 70.

When the set-top box is operating in a movie-on-demand mode,multipurpose pad 70 becomes a shuttle control actuator for orderingdifferent shuttle controls to manage display of the video movie.However, because the pad is multi-purpose, there are no dedicatedmarkings on the pad or handset indicating various shuttle controls suchas "play", "stop", "pause", "rewind", and "fast forward."

An aspect of this invention is to provide an on-screen visual aid thatinforms the viewer of available shuttle control options and how toselect them using the multi-purpose pad. In the movie-on-demand mode,the set-top box causes the television to display an icon representingthe physical layout of control actuator 70, which in this case, is acircular disc. In FIG. 3, a circular-shaped icon 100 is displayed on thelower left-hand corner of the television screen. One or more symbolsindicative of shuttle controls are arranged at locations relative to theicon. In the illustrated example, the familiar symbols associated withthe shuttle controls "play", "fast forward", "stop", and "rewind" arearranged about the circular icon at locations that correspond to theactuation positions of disc-shaped pad 70.

The displayed icon provides an intuitive visual mapping of the shuttlecontrols onto disc-shaped pad 70. Manual manipulation of pad 70 at aspecific physical actuation position that corresponds to one of theshuttle control symbols arranged at approximately the same locationrelative to the displayed icon causes the interactive television systemto control the video data stream in a manner corresponding to theshuttle control associated with the represented symbol.

FIGS. 5 and 6 show the mapping relationship between the multi-purposedisc-shaped pad 70 and the pop-up screen icon 100 in more detail.According to an aspect of this invention, pad 70 can be used to controlmore than four specified shuttle controls. This is an improvement overthe prior art handsets which employ individual dedicated keys for eachshuttle control, as shown in the example prior art handset 10 of FIG. 1.To assist the user in determining what shuttle controls are presentlyavailable for actuation by pad 70, the on-screen icon 100 changes torepresent different sets of shuttle controls. For instance, within themovie-on-demand operating mode, different sets of shuttle controlsymbols can be displayed depending upon whether the video movie is beingplayed on the television or not being played (as in the case when themovie is stopped or paused).

FIG. 5 shows an example icon 100' that can be used when the video movieis not being played. Here, a play symbol 102 is positioned relative tothe actuator-representing icon 100 at a north location that correspondsand visually maps to the upper actuation position 72 of pad 70.Accordingly, when the user depresses the upper region of pad 70 whilethe FIG. 5 icon 100' is being displayed, the set-top box will interpretthis directional command as an order to start playing the video movie.Similarly, a fast forward symbol 104, a stop symbol 106, and a rewindsymbol 108 are positioned relative to the circular icon in a fashionthat visually maps these shuttle controls onto respective actuationlocations right 74, down 76, and left 78 of disc-shaped pad 70.

FIG. 6 shows an example icon 100" that can be used when the video movieis being played. In this case, the icon 100" is very similar to icon100' of FIG. 5, but differs only in that a pause symbol 110 has beensubstituted for the play symbol 102. The "play" and "pause" shuttlecontrols are mutually exclusive in that the "play" shuttle control isuseful only when the movie is stopped or paused, and the "pause" shuttlecontrol is useful only when the movie is running. Accordingly, the pausesymbol 110 is visually mapped to the upper actuation location 72 of pad70. When the user depresses the upper region 72 of pad 70 while the FIG.6 icon 100" is being displayed, the set-top box will interpret thisdirectional command as an order to pause the video movie. As a result,the same actuation location 72 is used for two different shuttlecontrols within the movie-on-demand operating mode.

To further aid in providing intuitive visual feedback to the viewer, theshuttle control symbol and/or region of the pop-up icon that correspondsto the actuated region on the handset can be highlighted. This providesa visual feedback which the user associates with the manual actuationand tactile sensation of depressing the pad. This feedback is helpful inthe interactive television system of this invention because there may bea delay of up to a few seconds between the time the viewer selects ashuttle control and the time the appropriate video stream responsive tothat shuttle control is depicted on the television. This delay is causedby the accumulated duration of transmitting the shuttle control changerequest from the set-top box to the head-end server, analyzing therequest, and then sending the new digital video stream back to theset-top box. By highlighting the region or symbol on the icon, theviewer is visually informed that his/her command has been received andis in the process of being completed.

The combined use of a multi-purpose actuation pad and an on-screenpop-up icon provides a convenient, intuitive video control userinterface. The viewer can look at the television screen andsimultaneously operate the disc-shaped pad using tactile senses in amanner that corresponds to the visually displayed shuttle control map.Unlike prior art handsets, the viewer does not need to divert his/hereyes from the screen to the handset in an effort to hunt and find theappropriate dedicated shuttle control button.

It is noted that other information may also be displayed on the screenalong with the icon. For instance, the time-of-day or movie run time canbe displayed in the icon, as represented in FIGS. 5 and 6 by text box112. Additionally, the title of the movie being played can be displayedalong with the icon, as shown in FIG. 4.

FIG. 7 shows a video control user interface 120 according to oneimplementation of this invention. User interface 120 includes adirection control signal generator 122 resident in remote controlhandset 40. This signal generator produces signals in response to manualactuation of the disc-shaped pad. For instance, manipulation of the padin each of its four quadrants causes generation of four unique directioncontrol signals. These signals are transmitted via a remotecommunication link 124 (such as infrared or radio) to a receiver 126 inset-top box 36. The direction control signals are passed to a controller128 which converts the directional signals to shuttle control signals. Adirection-to-shuttle control map 130 aids the conversion of directionalsignals generated by the circular pad on the remote handset into shuttlecontrol signals that can be sent to head end server for control of thedigital video data stream. Depending upon the present viewing situation(e.g., whether the video movie is not being played, as represented bythe pad and icon of FIG. 5, or is being played, as represented by thepad and icon of FIG. 6), the controller employs different maps toconvert the directional signals to shuttle control signals.

A graphics display generator 132 is also provided to create the iconrepresenting the physical layout of the disc-shaped pad. The graphicsdisplay generator also creates and arranges the shuttle control symbolsat selected locations relative to the icon, thereby providing theintuitive visual mapping of the shuttle controls onto the directionalcontrol pad. Controller 128 commands graphics display generator 132 todisplay the appropriate icon and shuttle control symbols depending uponthe present viewing situation. A channel selector 134 is also providedin set-top box 36 to choose a channel for viewing from among the manychannels available from the head end server.

FIG. 8 shows a preferred method for operating an interactive televisionsystem according to this invention. The steps in FIG. 8 will bedescribed with continued reference to earlier figures. At step 200, themovie-on-demand mode is selected by the viewer. This is accomplished byoperating an appropriate menu or using the numeric keypad on handset 70to choose the appropriate channel which carries movie-on-demand. Channelselector 134 is tuned the movie-on-demand channel and the set-top box isplaced in its movie-on-demand mode. When the viewer selects a videomovie, the head end server begins transmitting a digital video datastream from the continuous media server 50 (FIG. 2) over thedistribution structure 42 to the requesting set-top box 36. The digitalvideo data stream is convened into pixel imaging information anddisplayed on the television (step 202).

If the viewer wishes to pause or stop the movie, or skip through certainpans using rewind or fast forward functions, the viewer presses anybutton on the remote control handset 40 to call up the icon. At step204, it is determined whether the remote handset has been activated. Ifit has not (i.e., the "no" branch from step 204), the video moviecontinues uninterrupted. Conversely, if the viewer did depress a button(i.e., the "yes" branch from step 204), the controller directs thegraphics display generator to create an appropriate icon and symbols fordisplay on the television. At step 206, it is determined whether themovie is presently being played, or is in a stopped or paused state. Ifthe movie is running, the icon having the shuttle control symbols of"pause", "stop", "fast forward", and "rewind" (shown in FIG. 6) isdisplayed (step 208). Alternatively, if the movie is stopped or paused,the icon having the shuttle control symbols of "play", "stop", "fastforward", and "rewind" (shown in FIG. 5) is displayed (step 210).

At step 212, the viewer depresses the directional control pad at alocation corresponding to a position of the desired shuttle controlrelative to the displayed icon. For instance, to rewind a portion of themovie, the viewer depresses the left-hand quadrant of pad 70 which mapsto the visual depiction of the rewind symbol on the left-hand side ofthe circular icon (see FIGS. 5 and 6). In response, direction controlsignal generator 122 of remote control handset 70 generates a leftdirection signal that is transmitted to set-top box 36. At step 214,controller 128 converts the direction control signal to an appropriateshuttle control using map 130. The shuttle control is transmitted fromset-top box 36 to head end server 32 (step 216) which then changes howthe digital video data stream is transmitted to the set-top box 36 (step218). In this case, the digital video data stream is transmitted at ahigher rate in reverse direction so that the displayed video resemblesthe familiar rewind characteristics of a cassette-based VCR.

In compliance with the statute, the invention has been described inlanguage more or less specific as to structural and methodical features.It is to be understood, however, that the invention is not limited tothe specific features described, since the means herein disclosedcomprise preferred forms of putting the invention into effect. Theinvention is, therefore, claimed in any of its forms or modificationswithin the proper scope of the appended claims appropriately interpretedin accordance with the doctrine of equivalents.

We claim:
 1. An interactive television system having a centralized head end server which services multiple distributed TV units, the head end server being capable of providing television programming and movie-on-demand to the TV units, the interactive television system comprising:a television; a set-top box operatively connected to the television, the set-top box being configured to operate in a program mode where the television displays a selected television program and in a movie-on-demand mode where the television displays a video movie received from the head end server, the set-top box being capable of providing visual information for display on the television; a remote control handset remotely coupled to the set-top box, the remote control handset having a multi-purpose control actuator; when the set-top box is operating in its program mode, the control actuator on the handset being used for television controls; when the set-top box is operating in its movie-on-demand mode, the set-top box causing the television to display an icon representing a physical layout of the control actuator on the remote control handset and one or more symbols arranged at locations relative to the icon, the symbols being indicative of shuttle controls for controlling the video movie so that the displayed icon provides a visual mapping of the shuttle controls onto the control actuator on the remote control handset; and whereby manual operation of the control actuator in a manner corresponding to one of the shuttle controls on the displayed icon causes the interactive television system to control the video movie according to that one shuttle control.
 2. An interactive television system as recited in claim 1 wherein the control actuator on the remote control handset comprises a disc-shaped pad having multi-position actuation.
 3. An interactive television system as recited in claim 1 wherein the shuttle controls are selected from a group comprising "stop", "play", "pause", "fast forward", and "rewind".
 4. An interactive television system as recited in claim 1 wherein a portion of the icon and/or a selected symbol that are displayed on the television are highlighted relative to a remaining portion of the icon and other non-selected symbols to provide visual feedback to a viewer regarding a shuttle control selected as a result of manual operation of the control actuator.
 5. An interactive television system as recited in claim 1 wherein:when the set-top box is operating in its movie-on-demand mode, the video movie is either being played or not played on the television; the set-top box displays the icon with symbols indicative of a first set of shuttle controls when the video movie is being played on the television; and the set-top box displays the icon with symbols indicative of a second set of shuttle controls when the video movie is not being played on the television.
 6. An interactive television system as recited in claim 5 wherein the first set of shuttle controls that are represented when the video movie is being played are selected from a group comprising "stop", "pause", "fast forward", and "rewind".
 7. An interactive television system as recited in claim 5 wherein the second set of shuttle controls that are represented when the video movie is not being played are selected from a group comprising "stop", "play", "fast forward", and "rewind".
 8. A video control user interface for controlling viewing of video movies on a television from a remote control handset, the remote control handset having a multi-purpose directional control button with multi-position actuation, the video control user interface comprising:a graphics display generator to create an icon for display on the television, the icon representing a physical layout of the directional control button on the remote control handset; the graphics display generator further creating and arranging one or more symbols at selected locations relative to the icon that are indicative of associated shuttle controls for controlling viewing of the video movie, the displayed icon and one or more symbols providing an intuitive visual mapping of the shuttle controls onto the directional control button of the remote control handset such that individual actuation positions of the directional control button correspond to associated shuttle controls; a receiver to receive signals transmitted from the remote control handset in response to manual operation of the directional control button; a controller operatively coupled to the graphics display generator and the receiver, the controller relating the actuator-induced signals received from the remote control handset to the shuttle controls that are graphically represented on the television by the symbols that are generated by the graphics display generator; and whereupon manual operation of the directional control button at a specific actuation position that corresponds to one of the symbols arranged at approximately the same location relative to the displayed icon causes the video movie to be altered according to the shuttle control associated with that one symbol.
 9. A video control user interface as recited in claim 8 wherein the shuttle controls are selected from a group comprising "stop", "play", "pause", "fast forward", and "rewind".
 10. A video control user interface as recited in claim 8 wherein the graphics display generator creates symbols indicative of a first set of shuttle controls when the video movie is being played on the television and symbols indicative of a second set of shuttle controls when the video movie is not being played on the television.
 11. A video control user interface as recited in claim 8 wherein the graphics display generator highlights a portion of the icon and/or a selected symbol relative to a remaining portion of the icon and other non-selected symbols to provide visual feedback to a viewer regarding a shuttle control selected as a result of manual operation of the directional control button at the specific actuation position.
 12. A method for operating an interactive television system, the interactive television system having a centralized head end server which services multiple distributed TV units, an individual TV unit having a television and a set-top box, the method comprising the following steps:providing channels for television programming and movie-on-demand from the head end server to the set-top box; providing a remote control handset for remotely controlling the set-top box, the remote control handset having a multi-purpose directional control button with multi-position actuation; selecting a channel associated with movie-on-demand whereby a video movie is transmitted from the head end server to the set-top box; displaying the video movie on the television; displaying on the television an icon representing a physical layout of the directional control button of the remote control handset; displaying one or more symbols indicative of shuttle controls for controlling viewing of the video movie; arranging the one or more symbols at various locations relative to the icon in a manner that visually maps the shuttle controls onto the directional control button of the remote control handset such that individual actuation positions of the directional control button correspond to associated shuttle controls; actuating the directional control button at a physical position corresponding to a selected displayed symbol that is arranged at approximately the same location relative to the displayed icon; generating a position signal in response to said actuating; transmitting the position signal from the remote control handset to the set-top box; converting the position signal to a shuttle control that is represented by the selected displayed symbol that corresponds to the actuated position of the directional control button; transmitting a request from the set-top box to the head end server to control the video movie according to the shuttle control; and altering how the video movie is transmitted from the head end server to the set-top box in response to the shuttle control request.
 13. A method as recited in claim 12 and further comprising:providing a remote control handset with a disc-shaped directional pad.
 14. A method as recited in claim 12 and further comprising:displaying symbols indicative of a first set of shuttle controls when the video movie is being played on the television; and displaying symbols indicative of a second set of shuttle controls when the video movie is not being played on the television.
 15. A method as recited in claim 12 and further comprising:displaying, when the video movie is being played on the television, symbols indicative of shuttle controls selected from a group comprising "stop", "pause", "fast forward", and "rewind".
 16. A method as recited in claim 12 and further comprising:displaying, when the video movie is not being played on the television, symbols indicative of shuttle controls selected from a group comprising "stop", "play", "fast forward", and "rewind".
 17. A method as recited in claim 12 and further comprising:highlighting a portion of the icon and/or a selected symbol relative to a remaining portion of the icon and other non-selected symbols to provide visual feedback to a viewer regarding a shuttle control selected as a result of actuating the directional control button.
 18. A method for controlling viewing of a video movie displayed on a television, the method comprising the following steps:displaying a video movie on a television; providing a remote control handset for remotely controlling how the video movie is displayed on the television, the remote control handset having a multi-purpose directional control button; displaying on the television an icon representing a physical layout of the directional control button on the remote control handset; displaying one or more symbols indicative of shuttle controls for controlling viewing of the video movie; arranging the one or more symbols at various locations relative to the icon in a manner that intuitively visually maps the shuttle controls onto the multi-purpose directional control button of the remote control handset such that individual actuation positions of the directional control button correspond to associated shuttle controls; manipulating the directional control button in a physical location corresponding to a selected displayed symbol that is arranged at approximately the same location relative to the displayed icon; altering how the video movie is displayed on the television according to the shuttle control corresponding to the selected displayed symbol.
 19. A method as recited in claim 18 and further comprising:providing a remote control handset with a disc-shaped directional pad.
 20. A method as recited in claim 18 and further comprising:displaying symbols indicative of a first set of shuttle controls when the video movie is being played on the television; and displaying symbols indicative of a second set of shuttle controls when the video movie is not being played on the television.
 21. A method as recited in claim 18 and further comprising:displaying, when the video movie is being played on the television, symbols indicative of shuttle controls selected from a group comprising "stop", "pause", "fast forward", and "rewind".
 22. A method as recited in claim 18 and further comprising:displaying, when the video movie is not being played on the television, symbols indicative of shuttle controls selected from a group comprising "stop", "play", "fast forward", and "rewind".
 23. A method as recited in claim 18 and further comprising:highlighting a portion of the icon and/or a selected symbol relative to a remaining portion of the icon and other non-selected symbols to provide visual feedback to a viewer regarding a shuttle control selected as a result of manipulating the directional control button. 